Latch.



No. 673,183. Patented Apr. 30, I901. w. P. WALSH, m.

LATCH.

(Application filed Oct. 31, 1900.)

(No Model.)

W Cra b964 Maly w,

, UNITED STATES WALTER P. WALSH, JR,

PATENT Orricn.

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION formipg part of Letters Patent-N0. 673,183, dated April30, 1901.

Application filed October 31, 1900. Serial No. 35,065- (No model.)

To LLZZ whom it may-concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER RWALsH, Jr., of the city of St. Louis, Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful lmprove men ts inDoor-Latches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof.

This invention relates to door-latches; and it consists of the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown,described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a door, showing myimprovedlatch in operative position. Fig. 2 is an edge view of a portion of adoor, showing the arrangement of the latch therein. Fig. 3 is a sideview, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing the locking device whichconstitutes a part of my invention.

In the construction of my improved latch I provide a suitable housing tobe secured within a notch in the door, and the latch by means of whichthe door is held is to be carried within the housing. The said housingis preferably arranged, as shown, with its rear side 1 arranged at aslant, so that one side of the housing is broader than the other.Integral with the narrow side of the housing is a pair of ears 2, whichproject laterally therefrom, and formed through the front side 3 of thehousing, near its outer or broad side, is an opening 4:, the purpose ofwhich will presently appear.

A latch-rod 5, formed with an integral projection 6, which operatesthrough the opening 4., is pivoted between the ears 2, and its outer endprojects through an opening 7 in the outer side of the housing. Asuitable shield 8 is rigid with the outer end of the latch-rod 5 andserves to cover the opening 7 and prevent foreign substances fromentering into the housing. A suitable spring 9 is secured to the rearside 1 of the housing and has its free end bearing against the rear sideof the latch 5, thereby holding the projection 6 within the opening 4,so that whenever the door is closed it will engage with the other partof the latch carried by the door-casing. Rigid with each end of thelatch-rod 5 is a handle 10, whereby said rod may be operated to withdrawthe projection 6 out of its engagement with the member of the latchcarried by the door-casing to permit the opening of the door.

The outer ends of the ears 2, adjacent to the point at which the rod 5is pivoted, are provided with the bent portions 11, adapted to receivethe link 12, which carries the lock whereby the latch-rod 5 may belocked in position.

An arm 13 is integral with the outer side of the link 12 and carries onits outer end a projection 14, which is adapted to operate within theopenings 15 in the ears 2 and in a similar opening 16 in the rod 5,which registers with the said openings 15. A projection 17, forming ahold, is integral with the side of the arm 13 opposite from theprojection 14 and afiords a means for withdrawing said projection 14from the openings 15 and 16 when it is desired to unlock the rod. 5.

In operative position my improved latch is applied, as shown, with thehousing in a suitable notch formed in the free edge of the door, theears 2 being on the inside and the projection 6 projecting a suitabledistance to engage the member of the latch which is car'- ried by thedoor-casing. To operate the latch to free the door, one of the handles10 is'engaged and is operated so that the spring 9 is compressed intothe position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, drawing the projection 6back out of its engagement with the doorcasing and allowing'the. door tomove freely on it hinges. After releasing the handle the tension of thespring 9 restores the latch-rod to its normal position, which is that inwhich the projection 6 projects through the opening 4:. The outer sideof the projection 6, as

shown, is inclined so that whenever the door.

is closed it will be forced back into the housing and allow the door tobecome entirely closed, after which it will move out again to engagethat portion of the latch which is carried by the door-casing. (See Fig.1.) The latch-rod 5 is preferably carried by the upper one of the ears2, so that its normal position will be that in which the projection 14rests Within the openings 15 and 16,1ocking the latch in a closedposition.

My improved latch is simple and inexpensive and may be applied to anydoor of ordinary construction, and is, as evident, perposition, andwhenever desired it locked so that it can be opened only from the fectlyoperative to retain the door in a closed may be end pivoted between saidears and extending through said housing, handles on the said latch-rod,saidlatch-rod having an opening 16 adapted to register with saidopenings 15 in said ears, whereby said projection 14 may pass throughelther of said ears and lock the said latch-rod, and a suitable springfor urging the latch-rod in one direction, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER P. WALSH, JR. Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIoKs, JOHN C. I-IIGDON.

